UCSB Opens Three-Game Series at Oregon State on Friday

Friday March 25, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday March 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday March 27, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
UC Santa Barbara at No. 23 Oregon State (15-4)
at Oregon State's Goss Stadium (3,248)
Overall record vs. the Beavers - 8-10-1
Last series win - N/A
Last series loss - 2005 (2/25 - 2/26 vs. OSU; 0-2)
Last time out vs. the Beavers - L, 5-3 @ UCSB, 2/26/05
Streak - Lost 4
All three games broadcast live online by clicking here
Live stats available via Gametracker

 Gaucho Baseball is on the Air!
A majority of UCSB baseball games will be broadcast live this season online by clicking here. Once Big West Conference play begins on April 8, Gerry Fall, the voice of men's soccer and men's basketball, will have the play-by-play on AM 1290 and also online at the link above.

 Neat-o for Vedo
UCSB junior RHP Matt Vedo was named the Big West Pitcher of the Week after throwing a complete-game, one-hitter on Saturday. Vedo, who struck out a career-high eight batters, came one out shy of tossing the first no-hitter by a Gaucho pitcher since Mark Nowlin did it in a seven-inning game on 3/29/80 vs. UC Irvine.

 Slugging Sean
Senior second baseman Sean Williams has 11 hits in his last 18 at-bats and was 6-for-7 this past weekend vs. Nevada, earning him Big West Player of the Week honors. Williams is hitting a team-best .410, which is second in the Big West, while his .449 on-base percentage is fifth and his .574 slugging percentage is third. Williams has reached base in all but one game this season.

 Starting And Finishing
The Gauchos' four starters - Jesse Meaux, Matt Vedo, Greg Davis and Nick Loredo - have been doing it at both ends of the game. As starters, the quartet is averaging 6.1 innings per start and have recorded all 10 of the team's wins. Loredo, Davis and Vedo have all saved games (Davis leads the team with three) as well. The Gaucho foursome also boast a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.5 to 1.

 U-C-S-B Spells Relief
Over the Gauchos' past 10 games, the bullpen has been outstanding. The relief corps have combined for a 1.82 ERA (five earned runs in 24.2 IP), allowing just 17 hits and six walks - for a 0.93 WHIP - while striking out 24 batters.

The Bob Brontsema File
The 2011 season is the 30th year of Head Coach Bob Brontsema's involvement in the UC Santa Barbara baseball program. With two years as a player, 10 as an assistant coach and now entering his 18th season at the helm, Brontsema has been involved in 880 Gaucho victories, far more than anyone in UCSB baseball history.
Brontsema has UCSB's most career wins - achieved on Mar. 28, 2010 - is third in overall career winning percentage and third in career conference winning percentage. He also holds the record for most Division I wins in school history. His 18 years as Gaucho head coach tie him for the longest tenure in UCSB baseball history, with Dave Gorrie (1960-77).
The dean of Big West coaches, Brontsema currently ranks first in Big West career wins amongst active Big West coaches and first in overall wins. In career conference wins, only five individuals throughout the history of the Big West surpass Brontsema. The Big West Conference is consistently ranked as one of the toughest baseball conferences in the country.
Brontsema has managed seven former Gauchos who are currently in the Major Leagues or have major league experience (Cincinnati's Justin Lehr & Chris Valaika, St. Louis' Skip Schumaker, Colorado's Ryan Spilborghs, Los Angeles Angels' Virgil Vasquez, Texas' Michael Young and San Francisco's Barry Zito) and his 2009 squad tied a school record by having nine players drafted.
Fifty-five of Brontsema's athletes have earned All-Big West honors and 10 of his Gauchos have been named All-Americans. Of the 72 athletes under Brontsema's tutelage selected into the professional ranks, only seven had been drafted before entering UCSB.

To purchase tickets, please call (805) 893-UCSB, visit the Ticket Office located inside the Intercollegiate Athletics building on campus or buy online and print at home by clicking here.

A donation to the Gaucho Fund - regardless of the sport it supports - will be part of the One Donation is Gold system. This allows donors to purchase priority/premium seating and parking at UCSB games across several sports in addition to other benefits.

The Gaucho Fund, launched as part of the Dare to Be Great strategic plan, is UCSB Athletics' annual giving program to provide vital funding support for scholarships, academic success and leadership development for Gaucho student-athletes. The Gaucho Fund is the anchor to the Dare to Be Great campaign.